Thanks for the comments guys. I would rather go to a four game guarantee and drop the price of the tournaments a few bucks. Gets rid of the if game in the losers bracket and no one can win after losing the first two.

Just finished playing in a SSUSA qualifer. As is often the case, guarnanteed 5 games, 2 seeding, and 3 in the bracket. One of the teams in bracket play lost the first 2 games. They then were allowed to continue to compete for the championship. It does not seem right to me that after losing your FIRST 2 games in the bracket that you can come back and knock out another team who won their first bracket game, lost the second and now also has 2 losses. Surely there is some way to give this team their 3rd game but not allow them to win the tourney. Would like to know what others think. Thanks.

55's include Sports Image(AAA), Renegades (AAA), Mayhem (AAA), Antiques of Iowa (50AA) and 50 Cal(55Major). 50Cal plays against Renegades at 9:50 and Antiques at 11:10. After that games are based on seeding from the first two games.

I had rotator cuff surgery (throwing arm) on 30 Nov 2012. Also had bone spurs removed and frays on labrum trimmed. I hit at the TOC in Feb but did not start throwing until April. Hitting no problem, golf no problem, still not at 100% throwing overhand but getting better all the time. Surgeon said to expect a full year for recovery. Do all of the rehab your insurance will pay for and make sure you do the work at home as well.

Garocket,
The problem I had with Mr. Jackson in St. Louis was as follows:

1. It did rain Sunday morning. The local Bridgeton team was ready to work the fields and get the tournament in. These are my home fields and they handle water well. The tournament could have been played, even if it had to go to a one pitch count. Jackson decided not finish, pocketed all his money, and did not even pay the umpires who came Sunday morning show up money.
2. Your are correct about Kentucky, it was actually Tennessee(short term memory is not what it used to be). He tried to pull the same kind of deal and almost got beat with his own cane by a guy from Texas. Temporary fences on half the fields(very short) and one diamond that was 375 in the power alleys.

He moved from Tennesse to Florida and now Indiana. Why do you think he keeps moving? In my opinion it is his reputation. Lots of teams won't come to St Louis for tournaments because of him even when we explain someone else is running the tourneys. This has absolutely nothing to do with how my team fared. I don't even remember how we did in the St Louis tournament.

Glad you like the tournament. I enjoyed the competition and the teams. Do not like Jackson and won't play in any tournament he runs. He is the only guy I know of that would not pay show up money to umpires when he cancels a tournament.

My team from St Louis will never play again in a tournament run by Jerry Jackson. Nothing against ISA but as long as Jerry is running the tournament we won't attend. He ruined senior softball tourneys in St Louis by his actions with the ISA senior worlds here several years ago then did the same in Kentucky. There is a reason he keeps moving the tournament.

Dave,
Thanks for running the tourney. We were not happy at all with the scheduling for the 55's. We started our first game at 7:30 on Saturday and our second game was not until 8 1/2 hours later at 3 PM. Then we had to play our first game on Sunday at 7:00 AM. That is the first time I ever had to play under the lights for the first game of the day. For guys west of Indy that was actually a 6AM game. I know that the tournament was full but that was not a very friendly schedule. Need to find a bigger complex for next year. Thanks.

Curt,
I am currently at 11 weeks postop. I am not yet throwing a ball. Expect to start at 12 weeks with a tennis ball. The PT company I am using is a sports/physical therapy business so they have a protocol for a throwing program. I had not only rotator cuff but also bone spurs and a frayed labrum. The overhand is going slower than the swining motion. I was able to hit and swing a golf club at 10 weeks but no overhand throwing. I will probably continue PT through 16 weeks and expect the surgeon to release me at that time as well. Everybody I talk to says it took a year to get back to normal throwing. Good luck and keep up the rehab.

Harry,
Played all three days. Went 0 for 4 to start and my teammates said my swing did not look right. During the 5th bat I swung and missed everything but felt like a better swing. Hit the next pitch off the fence and went 10 for 12 after that. Did end up catching two games but threw back to the pitcher underhanded. Was sore after but muscular and not in the joint. Did PT this morning and everything is good. Also played a round of golf and was pleasantly suprised that hitting the ball for normal distance was not a problem. TOC was tough for our team not having played for 5 months. Plus the winner of the Worlds, the second place from Worlds and a winner of three other major tourneys were in our bracket and they have all been moved up to Major this year. But we were competitive losing two of the games by one run. Glad we went and I was able to play. For anyone who has rotator cuff surgery, you MUST do the physical therapy and the rehab at home. Talked to several guys at the TOC and they all said it won't feel normal for a year. Hope your rehab goes well Harry.

Harry,
Went and hit last night. Only took about 20 swings, no home run cuts. A little sore but no burning pain. The only swing that really hurt was the one when I missed the ball completely! No extra soreness this morning. Definitely no ovehand throwing, underhand will have to do for now. I asked the therapist this morning why they ask if you feel a stretch rather than does it hurt. I told her I looked stretch up in the dictionary and the word pain did not appear. She said to look up theraputic stretch! Hope your rehab goes well and the pain is minimal. So it is a go for the TOC, will let you know how that goes.

Harry,
Saw the doctor on Friday at eight weeks from surgery. Although I do not yet have 100% of movement back, he gave me the OK to hit at the TOC and also to try some golf. One of the reasons is that it is my right shoulder and I bat lefthanded so I will have more control since it is my front arm in the swing. Not going to try and hit any home runs or 300 yard drives, just a nice easy swing. I plan on trying to swing some this week (indoors here in St. Louis) in prep for the TOC the following week. Will let you know how practice goes.

Rainmans, my recovery is very similar. Today I am at seven weeks and still doing therapy in addition to the work at home. Adding new strength exercises(without weights) every week. I expect to be able to hit at nine weeks but throwing is still a ways off. My surgeon told me the same thing, that throwing will take a year. So I plan on playing at the TOC, either playing first base or DH. Thanks again for sharing your experince.

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